Although
the UDM retains the point of view that in an ideal world politics and sport
should be separated, we cannot discount the history of SA. Due to that history
people who played a prominent role in the liberation struggle have moved on to
high stations in the South African society, including sport administration, Sam
Ramsamy is one such person.

Struggle credentials no longer provide the sort of immunity from criticism for
bad performance that it did six years ago. It seems that in Mr Ramsamy's case
the chickens have come home to roost. It is disingenuous of him now to claim
that politics and sport should be separated.

We support the Minister in his genuine concern for what was a worse than
expected Olympic performance, and in his assertion that Nocsa is not elevated
above other sports bodies. Mr Ramsamy should have no doubts that he remains
accountable to the citizens of SA and their elected public representatives. We
urge Nocsa to accept and support the initiatives of the Minister, since things
are clearly not well at Nocsa, as illustrated by the ill-considered decision to
take a baseball team with no chance to Australia for repeated thrashings and
humiliation, whilst a hockey team with an excellent track record was left
behind.

Either Nocsa is out of touch with the sports codes that it represents, or Mr
Ramsamy is abusing his position to fight personal battles.

The UDM has requested the Chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee
on Sport to call Nocsa to account before the committee to report on the worse
than expected Olympic performance. This matter is as much in the national
interest as is the King Commission into cricket.